POLITICAL SCIENCE 1
PasadenaCityCollege
S. Anderson
MWC325, 10:25
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
TEXT
Daniel Shay, Joanne Green, Christopher Smith (S&G&S). Living Democracy,
BriefEdition. Third Edition. (The book can be purchased from the Bookmart located at
1535 E. Colorado Blvd. across from the college)
Bibliography. You will be required to read one book from a book list handed out in class
class. You can purchase your selection from any major bookstore either on-line or in
person. You may also want to see if your selection is in the Shatford Library or any other
public library.
GRADING AND ATTENDANCE
There will be a midterm and a final examination. In addition to these two tests,
you will be required to turn in one paper – three to fivepages typed (the paper will be a
critical analysis of the book from the bibliography based on a handout given in class).
There will also be four short assignments (one-two pages) called “political shorts”
(these assignments are explained on the final page of your syllabus). There will also be
two in-class written exercises focusing on topics post-midterm that are not in your
textbook.
PasadenaCityCollege policy will be followed regarding attendance. “Students
are expected to attend all class meetings of the courses in which they are enrolled.
Students have a responsibility to drop classes they no longer attend. Excessive
absences after the drop or withdrawal deadlines will result in the assignment of F
grade.”
Your final grade will be derived from the following:
POLITICAL SHORTS
20%
WRITTEN EXERCISES/IN-CLASS
20%
MIDTERM
20%
PAPER
20%
FINAL
20%
PLAGIARISM, CHEATING, AND OTHER WAYS TO FAIL
You are responsible for your own work in this class. Each and every assignment
must be posted on www.turnitin.com by the time the assignment is due. If you fail to
submit a hard copy and a copy to turnitin.com, you will not receive credit for the class.
There is a detailed explanation of how to use www.turnitin.com on my website. If you
don’t pass either the midterm or final satisfactorily, you will not pass the course. Any
student caught cheating on any core assignment will receive a failing grade and will be
subject to further disciplinary action by the college.
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Cell Phone use will not be tolerated in class. If you have an emergency, please
use phone in the hallway. Three warnings will be given and if not heeded, you will be
dropped from the class.
Laptop use in class is for taking notesonly. Students using laptops must sit in the
front row. Social networking, e-mailing, etc. in class will result in being dropped from
the class.
OFFICE LOCATION& PHONE: C352A, 626/585-7495
E-MAIL: SJANDERSON@PASADENA.EDU, website:
http://faculty.pasadena.edu/sjanderson
OFFICE HOURS: MW 8:15-8:50, MW 1:35-3:00, TTH 8:15- 8:50 OR YOU CAN
ALWAYS REACH ME BY E-MAIL!
Throughout the Spring SemesterEXTRA CREDIT will be announced. The
difficulty of the assignment will determine the amount of extra credit you will receive.
You will be given a separate handout explaining in greater detail the types of Extra Credit
you can complete. ALL EXTRA CREDIT IS DUE ON NOV. 30thAT THE
BEGINNING OF THE CLASS. I suggest, however, that you turn extra credit in as you
complete it for feedback.
NOTE: YOU MUST COMPLETE THE CORE ASSIGNMENTS – MIDTERM,
PAPER, AND FINAL – WITH SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IN ORDER
TO PASS THIS COURSE. EXTRA CREDIT DOES NOT REPLACE MISSED
POLITICAL SHORTS OR MISSED CLASSES.
THE COURSE
This course if for beginning students of Political Science – for those who will be
majoring in the field as well as for those who are majoring in other areas but wish to
understand the subject matter of American Government. The main objective of this
course is to introduce students to the structure of American Government and to illustrate
how it affects our lives on a daily basis.
ASSIGNMENTS
Aug. 29-31
Course Introduction: Democracy in Action
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 3-29
Sept.7
Early Governance
Assignment:S&G&S, pp. 31-65
Sept.12-14
The Constitutional Framework
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. A1-A31, PS #1 DUE SEPT. 14
Sept.19-21
Federalism
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 67-91
Sept. 26-28
Federalist Papers
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. A32-A41,PS #2 DUE SEPT. 28
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Oct.3-5
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 93-121
Oct.10-12
Civil Rights
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 123-151
Oct.17-19
MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Oct.24-26
Congress
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 153-191
Oct. 31-Nov. 2
The Presidency
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 193-225, PS #3 DUE NOV.2
Nov.7-9
The Judiciary
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 259-293
Nov.14-16
Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 295-325
Nov.21-23
Politics of the Media
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 327-361,PS #4 NOV. 23
Nov. 28-30
Interest Groups, Social Movements, and Civics
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 363-389, PAPER DUE
NOV. 30
Dec.5-7
Elections and Participation
Assignment: S&G&S, pp. 391-421
Dec. 14
FINAL EXAMINATION, 10:15-12:15
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POLITICAL SHORTS
Political Shorts are due according to the above schedule.More detailed
instructions for each assignment are posted on my website prior to the due date. They are
short double-spaced typed assignments, one-two pages in length. Always cite your
sources (follow MLA Format posted on-line). NO LATE POLITICAL SHORTS
WILL BE ACCEPTED! We will discuss your political shorts in class.
Political Short #1 Due Sept.14– Biography of elected or appointed official. You will
select a name in class of an elected or appointed official and complete the following:
1. Write a job description for their position.
2. Outline the PUBLIC BACKGROUND ONLY! of your official. (what offices
have they held, committees that are important, etc.).
3. Find three areas of activity that this person has been involved in since they
have been in office. Summarize these issuesin three separate paragraphs.Write
one accountability question for this individual.
USE A MINIMUM OF TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES – ONE SOURCE MUST BE
OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE AND OTHER SOURCE MUST BE
OBTAINED THROUGH PROQUEST (SHATFORD LIBRARY DATABASE)
Political Short #2 Due Sept. 28 – Public Television or Public Radio (WEBSITE
POSTING WILL HAVE DIRECTIONS). Watch or listen to one program on public
television or radio. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ONLY STATIONS YOU NOV.
USE:
Public T.V. Stations
KCET Channel 28 or 50, kcet.org or PBS.org
Public Radio States
KPFK 90.7, 89.3,106.9 FM, or .org
Political Short #3 Due Nov. 2–Election Editorial (WEBSITE POSTING WILL
HAVE DIRECTIONS). Go to the editorial section of any major newspaper or journal.
Find a current (written this semester) editorial that gives the author’s argument regarding
the 2012 elections. Write a three point rebuttal in the form of a letter to the editor.
Political Short #4 DueNov. 23 – A Draft of your paper with a brief meeting regarding
draft.
WRITTEN EXERCISES
There will be two written exercises in class this semester. One written exercise
will be 20 short answer questions on two Watergate Tapes we will view in class. The
second written exercise will be 20 short answer questions on “Wikileaks” which we will
view in class. These written exercises are open book, open note, 100 points each. Dates
of each written exercise to be announced.
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